Sabarni Chatterjee, SVP, Office Strategy, Sutherland

In this episode of the Think Factory Podcast, Sabarni Chatterjee of Sutherland discusses her career journey from mechanical engineering and hands-on manufacturing to strategy, sales, and leadership in the CEO office. Sabarni shares how her early experience commissioning an engine assembly line at Royal Enfield taught her the importance of root-cause analysis and solving problems beyond quick fixes, lessons she now applies to business strategy and client solutions. She also reflects on her time at Amazon, where managing more than 300 people helped her develop skills in people management, motivation, stakeholder alignment, and understanding how operational realities connect with business objectives. Sabarni explains how her MBA and current role at Sutherland have helped her combine execution with strategic thinking, particularly when managing competing priorities and influencing stakeholders without direct authority. She also discusses how working closely with senior leaders has shaped her understanding of leadership, including the need to balance data-driven decision-making with empathy and the human side of business. As a woman who began her career in male-dominated engineering and shop-floor environments, Subarni shares advice on overcoming bias, embracing challenging experiences, and not allowing preconceived expectations to influence career choices. Looking ahead, she encourages young professionals, particularly women in engineering and technology, to embrace every stage of their careers, learn from each experience, and trust that each step contributes to their growth.